Featured image for “OPINION | “Go outside and play” -Every Boomer’s mother”

The "after" photo from a green schoolyard makeover at a Colorado elementary school. | Children & Nature Network, "Green Schoolyards" report

OPINION | “Go outside and play” -Every Boomer’s mother

Green schoolyards is a movement to turn public school playgrounds into “outdoor classrooms,” with plant and vegetable gardens, trails, trees,…

By Sherry Magill

Featured image for “Challenge to Florida pronoun law gets go-ahead”

Challenge to Florida pronoun law gets go-ahead

The law requires teachers to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.…

By Dara Kam - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “OPINION | School choice is a lifesaver for parents of color ”

OPINION | School choice is a lifesaver for parents of color

I am living proof that giving Black families more options, and more opportunity, is the key.…

By Denisha Allen

Featured image for “St. Johns moms speak about their lawsuit over schoolbooks”

School library books, like these at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy in Jacksonville, remain a controversial issue in Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

St. Johns moms speak about their lawsuit over schoolbooks

The two parents are suing for equal rights when the public challenges books in Florida’s schools.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Teacher unions say pay raise isn’t enough”

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference May 9, 2023, to sign several education bills and increases in teacher pay. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP

Teacher unions say pay raise isn’t enough

Florida ranks near the bottom nationwide in average teacher salaries, according to the Florida Education Association.…

By Nancy Guan - WUSF

Featured image for “Unbridled Mustang: Mandarin grad hungry to change his hometown”

L.J. Valenzuela will graduate from Mandarin High School with a 4.5 grade point average. He will attend Brown University on a full scholarship in the fall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Unbridled Mustang: Mandarin grad hungry to change his hometown

L.J. Valenzuela is an activist for LGBTQ rights who loves Jacksonville and plans to return after he earns his degree…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism”

The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today

Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism

More than 27% of Duval County Public Schools students have missed at least four weeks of class this academic year.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “OPINION | At the crossroads in education, don’t be a bystander”

The Duval Schools administration building on Thursday, May 23, 2024. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

OPINION | At the crossroads in education, don’t be a bystander

On Tuesday, May 28, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund will host a Community Conversation — an opportunity for us to…

By Rachel Tutwiler Fortune

Featured image for “Options expand for people with intellectual differences”

A support professional sits with three participants in sensory and cognitive activities at Pine Castle. l Aaron Mervin, Pine Castle

Options expand for people with intellectual differences

Pine Castle, a Jacksonville organization that serves people with special needs, recently opened up 200 new slots for people to…

By Steven Ponson

Featured image for “2 Duval superintendent candidates advance as finalists ”

A crowd gathers before the School Board meeting on Tuesday, many to protest the potential closure of some schools. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

2 Duval superintendent candidates advance as finalists

The Duval County School Board selected two candidates Tuesday as the finalists in its search for a new superintendent.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “OPINION | Remedial education: It’s time for an elected superintendent”

OPINION | Remedial education: It’s time for an elected superintendent

It’s time for Jacksonville to consider a strong, elected superintendent model such as most counties in the state have. …

By A.G. Gancarski

Featured image for “Duval school district rebuffs pressure to end relationship with Jacksonville Public Library”

The Dallas Graham Branch of the Jacksonville Public Library is often filled with children from nearby Durkeeville, Grand Park and Moncrief Springs in the afternoon following the end of the school day. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Duval school district rebuffs pressure to end relationship with Jacksonville Public Library

Amid the national “book ban” conversation, Duval school officials defended a longstanding connection with the Jacksonville Public Library.…

By Carter Mudgett and Will Brown

Featured image for “Duval Schools apologizes for errors over arrested teacher”

Duval Schools apologizes for errors over arrested teacher

The district acknowledged that a teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts should have been removed his classroom immediately.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “OPINION | School closures? Blame charters, state government and ‘choice’”

Fishweir Elementary is one of the schools that a consultant has floated as potentially ripe for closure and consolidation.

OPINION | School closures? Blame charters, state government and ‘choice’

I ask you to write your state representative and state senator to seek limitations on what charters can do and…

By Jimmy Peluso

Featured image for “Former Douglas Anderson teacher pleads guilty”

Former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Jeffrey Clayton pleaded guilty to four counts on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Former Douglas Anderson teacher pleads guilty

Jeffrey Clayton admitted to touching a teenage student and uttering romantic feelings about her.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Nonprofit may hold key to Duval literacy gaps”

READ USA Chief Executive Rob Kelly says tutoring by the literacy nonprofit has improved reading comprehension and literacy among students at seven Duval County public schools. Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar, left, and School Board members Warren Jones and April Carney joined him at a news conference Monday, April 22, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Nonprofit may hold key to Duval literacy gaps

Students have improved their reading accuracy and comprehension after tutoring from READ USA, a literacy group based in Jacksonville.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Six semifinalists picked for Duval Schools superintendent”

The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today

Six semifinalists picked for Duval Schools superintendent

Five men and one woman are semifinalists for superintendent of Duval County Public Schools.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “DeSantis signs bill allowing chaplains in public schools”

Religious chaplains will be permitted to act as school counselors in K-12 schools in Florida.

DeSantis signs bill allowing chaplains in public schools

Parental pemission will be required for children to participate in counseling by volunteer chaplains.…

By Ryan Dailey - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “DeSantis signs bill for anti-communism lessons in schools”

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will lead to the history of communism being taught from kindergarten through 12th grade. | Phil Sears, AP file

DeSantis signs bill for anti-communism lessons in schools

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a measure that will lead to the history of communism being taught in grades…

By Ryan Dailey - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Duval parents plead to keep their schools open”

Longtime Atlantic Beach resident Carolyn Zisser brought Diane Ravitch's book "Slaying Goliath" with her to address the Duval County School Board on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Zisser was among nearly a dozen people who implored the board to keep Atlantic Beach Elementary open. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Duval parents plead to keep their schools open

Nearly a dozen parents spoke to the School Board on Tuesday, but school officials stressed again that no decisions are…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Former VyStar headquarters will become charter school”

IDEA Public Schools is renovating the former VyStar Credit Union headquarters at 4949 Blanding Blvd. into the charter elementary school. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Former VyStar headquarters will become charter school

IDEA Public Schools says the elementary school will open in August 2025, the third IDEA school in Jacksonville.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Education chief visits Raines to tout Bright Futures scholarships”

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. spoke with freshmen and sophomores at Raines High School on Friday, April 12, 2024, about opportunities through the state's Bright Futures Scholarship Program. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Education chief visits Raines to tout Bright Futures scholarships

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. wants to ensure that students know their options for attending college.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “FSCJ gets $1.5 million to train people with unique abilities”

FSCJ gets $1.5 million to train people with unique abilities

The grant will fund a multiyear program to educate students with unique abilities and match them with jobs in Jacksonville.…

By Carter Mudgett

Featured image for “Cummer and The Links bring arts to Northwest Jax students”

Tiger Academy students produced drawings and other artworks this year following a November 2023 field trip to The Cmmer Museum of Art & Gardens in November 2023. | Submitted

Cummer and The Links bring arts to Northwest Jax students

Art can help people overcome emotions they do not realize are present. That was one of the motivations of staff…

By Will Brown

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